One Is Enough

This school year is coming to an end in just a couple of weeks. There's a bit of difference about leaving school for summer vacation this year...I won't be returning. Oh, it's not because I haven't loved my job and want to continue teaching here, but it's because TYC of Pyote will be closing it's doors forever.

Some people have asked how I could work in such an environment and all I can say is that a kid is a kid is a kid...and I adore kids. Instilling that little spark for the desire for more learning has been something I've enjoyed for the past six years, and the past two years have been no different.

Will all these boys change their ways and lead a productive and successful life? Probably not. Will just one? Probably so. Then that has been enough...just one. Think that's crazy? Remember the story from the bible about the shepherd who had 100 sheep and all were accounted for except for one? Do you remember what he did? He searched for that one lost sheep. Yes, even one is enough.

The Cat's Out of the Bag

Rumor upon rumor upon rumor has spread like a vicious virus infecting the normal routine of the West Texas State School. How would I know of a thing? Because darlin', it's where I work, but not for long. We had a feeling a couple of years ago that something Wicked this way was coming for us West Texans and it's called budget cuts. Last year, right after Spring Break the state redirected half our student population to other state facilities causing a ripple effect of job lay offs.

At the end of this year, the transformer blew in the education building on campus leaving teachers and students in the dark and without heat during some of the coldest days of 2009. The state decided they wouldn't fix the problem and left us in the cold. We eventually found space in old warehouses and moved our belongings and continued to hold school despite the harsh and unfriendly conditions. We took this as a sign that our days were numbered.

Today, that sign has become a full blown slap to the face. Cherie Townsend, in an attempt to meet state government's demands for a 5% budget cut within all state entities, has proposed the early closing of the school. This closing is slated for April 2nd. We were assured over and over and over again that the school wouldn't be closing until the end of August. That we'd have our jobs until the end of August. That the students that we've been so dedicated to for the past couple years would be with us to TAKS test and GED test, but now that promise has been broken.

Yes, I agree with the man in the green suit and patriot tie on the CBS News when he states that West Texans are considered step children that no body likes when it comes to making decisions for the entire state. We are usually abandoned and left to fend for ourselves. Oh well, it's not the first time and I'm certain it won't be the last.

Driving Way Too Much, New Fractures & Stolen Tailgates

I've had a busy driving day. First I drove to work over in Pyote, twenty three miles. Before leaving the house though, I dressed in lots of layers. First an under shirt, a sweater shirt and finally an over shirt. I wore tights covered by a pair of slacks. I then had gloves, a scarf and a wool coat. I dressed warmly for the occasion of below freezing weather made to feel even more below freezing due to the wind that kept whipping through the West Texas landscape.

You may wonder why I clothed myself so warmly if all I was doing was driving. Upon arriving at work, it's a good half a mile walk past the education building to the vocational buildings where us teachers now have taken residence in order to facilitate learning. Did you happen to notice that I said "past the education building"? On December the 14th, the education building at West Texas State School in Pyote experienced a power failure. A few lights, some outlets and phones were working, but there was absolutely no heat or computers.

The boys stayed on the dorms where there was electricity and of course heat. Us teachers stayed, sitting in the dark and the cold for several hours waiting for information regarding our dire situation. Being the brazen outspoken one that I am...I decided I was taking an early lunch across the railroad tracks at the Pyote Cafe and Grocery. Others decided to join me. At lunch we met up with TYC employees who informed us that the transformer had blown and another would need to be ordered, it could take a week before getting the problem fixed.

Long story shortened, the powers that be in Austin, you know, all those lovely representatives chosen by us voters, decided not to fix the problem, but instead have us the teachers move into the warehouses behind the education building. Do I need to tell you that I was not pleased? None of the moving occurred until after we returned from the holiday, so the rest of the week was spent in the partially lighted, extremely frigid building.

That explains why now I walked past the education building this morning after arriving to work. After working a few hours, I then drove to Iraan, one hundred seventeen miles, to meet with the superintendent to discuss worst case scenario in regards to my soon to be unemployment. Worst case scenario is that the school will close in March and to work out my contract and still receive a paycheck, then I and the other teachers would need to drive to Iraan everyday to work.

I then drove home to Wink, one hundred forty two miles thinking about the possibility of driving two hundred eighty four miles every day to collect a pay check. I'm really hoping the school stays open until the end of May, that would be super sweet.

A few updates and a public service announcement before I go. Seems that a former student of mine has been nabbed by the Odessa Police for stealing tailgates from pick up trucks. Apparently, there's a high demand for tailgates and now the police have suggested that those of us with these valuable tailgates should park our rears up against something so that the perps can't make off with our tails.


The comish told me at the gym tonight that County Road 201, the one leading to the predicted third sink hole has developed a few more fractures. He's picking me up tomorrow at 4:30PM and taking me out to get some pictures of the ever spreading problem.

There Are Other Worlds To Sing In

Today, the boys and I read a few more chapters in Beowulf. The part we read is one of my favorites. It's after the killing of Grendel and his mother, after the death of King Higlac and after Beowulf has ruled for fifty years over Geatland. It's the part of where the dragon is roused and waked to anger due to a stolen cup. The narrator explained the origin of the dragon's treasure, how it had been brought there by the last survivor of an extinct race of people. The description was melancholy as he described the swords that will no longer be polished, jeweled helmets that will crack because of no one to wear them, that his people have been swept away by greed and will live no more.

After the reading, I had the boys start on their essays for the credit exams which will be given next week. The topic: Explain how one experience can change a person's life in a positive way. They had no idea what that meant. For most of them, they hadn't experienced anything that has changed their life for the better. I decided that I'd share how some negative experiences changed things for me. After the sharing, some of them were able to start writing. There were still a few that were stumped.

I explained that I loved watching "It's A Wonderful Life" this time of the year. Most had never seen the movie, but I explained how a man felt as if he'd not made any impact for the good with any of the people in his life. He wished he'd never been born. His wish was granted and he was able to see how all those around him changed for the worse because he wasn't there. Some even died, because he wasn't there to save them.

One boy remarked, "Oh, I don't think I've made any type of good impression on anyone. I'm pretty sure that everyone would be better off without me around."

I responded, "I'm glad to have met you and I'm sure I'm not the only one." Never underestimate the impression you may make on others.

Negativity In the Workplace A Reflection of TYC

Once upon a time I used to be an AR manager back in Denver, CO. I truly don't miss it. Managing negativity was a pervasive problem that caused if not brought under control, high turnover, absenteeism, complaints and a general overall negative atmosphere. Some elements are crucial in identifying and facing negativity in our lives, whether it's professional or personal.

Persons with a low sense of self esteem will most likely be more negative towards other people or for the organization they work for. A person with degraded confidence will be unlikely to accept responsibility for mistakes and will shove that blame onto others. This type of person will always look on the outside to explain and rationalize their mistakes. He/She will only feel better by belittling those around them. This person will constantly look for others faults and weaknesses and exploit them.

People who have to be in control will resist any type of change, whether it be good or not. They will constantly resist and complain about the inability to cope with the changes. You'll hear a familiar script: "Why bother learning this new program, they'll just change it tomorrow anyway."

Acceptance. Most of our boys come to us from gang related activities, their reasoning...they wanted to belong. Most people want to be a part of something good, worthwhile...and if this isn't present then disillusionment sets in and we become detached. Isolation is a natural by-product of negativity.

We're starting a new school year on August 24th. I've already started hearing the awful rumors that the school won't be open for six months. Another rumor has it that our principal will be replaced because of our low test scores. Grapevine also reveals that Ward County is taking over the facility and kicking the education program to the curb. All this talk has some of my co-workers running around scrambling, crying and pretty much being self defeating.

Really, all one can do...all I'm going to do, is get prepared for the first day of school, show up and present a great lesson with an even bigger smile, because basically, it's my job to make these boys feel safe and comfortable and to provide them with an excellent opportunity to learn. I've gotten permission to do some new books this year, and I'm very excited about them. Dante's Inferno, Machiavelli's The Prince, Milton's Paradise Lost, Orwell's Animal Farm and 1984 are just a few of the books and epic poems I'll have available. On a lighter side we'll be seeing some Shakespearean comedy, such as The Taming of The Shrew and a Comedy of Errors. I might even be able to plan a field trip to the Globe Theatre in Odessa.

It Only Takes a Spark to Get a Fire Going

Just a couple more weeks until the boys of summer are out of school. I've enjoyed summer school, and moreover I've sensed that the boys are loving it as well. Sure, there are a few resistant souls and as my boss says, "They're stuck on stupid".

We're still reading Ghost Rider by Neil Peart, the drummer from Rush, but we took a break to TAKS test and credit exam. The education program received glowing reports from Austin today in a management meeting with TYC. There's some resistance to the boys experiencing success, but I can tell you from observing...this whole learning thing; it's catching on.

Some of the boys stand a little taller, shoulders back and a strut to their stride. It's not because of winning a pissing contest, but it's from having accomplished something worthwhile. As these new graduates walk the halls, with that spark in their eye, others are seeing it and catching on fire. That fire smoulders against tarnished dreams and years of apathy and unrest, but slowly the fire is fanned and the red embers glow...soon these sparks spring into an eternal flame.

One by one the boys enter the chambers of education, and ask sheepishly, "What do I need to do?" We smile and with a gleam in our eyes...impart that knowledge fully.